'Mistral's summer jaunt

[ash]

I suppose that I should finish the story.

As said already, Thursday 2 August, was Campbeltown to Troon, our longest day at 36.4 mls. Needed a little bit of help from the engine to hold our course to a waypoint south of Pladda in light winds and a north going tide. Rounded Pladda at HW and had to motor to Troon as the sea was still very lumpy from the day before and the wind was very light and from behind and there was still a long way to go. Troon allocate a berth when you radio in so we were on F pontoon. The toilets merit a mention as they're very clean and tidy – the crew tells me that the ladies even has a bath. Troon is expensive – same cost as Largs if you pay for an electricity hook up but they do provide a good free WiFi service.

Treated ourselves to breakfast in Scotts on Friday before leaving Troon bound for the Cumbrae pontoon. Motored to off Ardrossan then managed to sail downwind under genoa only. Walked into Millport for an excellent dinner in The Cumbrae Bistro before walking back again, over the hill in the dark to the pontoon at the Sailing School.

Had a minor drama on Saturday morning with my first experience of losing the raw water cooling. We had berthed overnight in the inside corner of the pontoon with a wind from the north all night, and low water only a couple of hours before we left so our corner had lots of seaweed floating around us. I left the engine on a fast idle whilst I made the lines ready to slip, let her fall back on a stern spring so that the bow came well out so that we could clear the wide mobo which was berthed quite close in front of us. Motored past the ferry, then slowed down and handed the helm to the crew so that I could raise the main. The crew decided that the ferry was leaving and would be too close so gave the engine a bit of welly as I tidied up on deck. As I stepped back down into the cockpit, I could hear the 'dry' exhaust note so had a look over the stern to find no cooling water. Shut down the engine and left the crew to sail on the main while I emptied the filter basket which was full of seaweed. Restarting the engine gave some raw water but less than usual so ran it on idle for a couple of minutes to cool things down while I unfurled the genoa. Left the crew to sail away from the island while I checked the pump which was OK, removed another basketfull of seaweed, filled the pipework with water and refitted the filter lid before restarting the engine and getting full flow – phew!

Had a good sail to the Ardyne Buoy before the wind disappeared so motored in to Port Bannatyne, hoping that Waverley wouldn't tee bone us as she left Rothesay Pier, bound for the Kyles. Walked into Rothesay, after a short sharp rain shower, for dinner in The Esplanade Hotel – good food – big portions – reasonable price, before getting a taxi back to The Port for a couple of drinks and our first look at the Olympics.

Sunday morning, so a long lie before a walk across to Ettrick Bay for a late full cooked breakfast, and a walk back to burn some of it back off before a good sail back to Kip. We had heard thunder on Saturday, and again on Sunday but we didn't get much of the rain.

Overall, the holiday was a great success, 18 days and only 2 really wet ones. We spent a second night in Holy Loch on 22 July because of wind and rain, a second night in Portavadie on 27 July because of wind but it was dry. We had 3 nights in Campbeltown because Wednesday 1 August was to be stormy, and Campbeltown seemed a good place to be stuck. Travelled 243 mls, engine on for 37 hours, and about 25 litres diesel used.

Ash

[Booby Trapper]

Great write up Ash. Where to next year?

[Telo]

Great write up Ash.

+1

[ash]

Great write up Ash. Where to next year?

Thanks, and Shard too.

The crew would like to do a circle - round the Mull and back through the Crinan - we'll see how confident we are by then.

Ash

[Booby Trapper]

Great write up Ash. Where to next year?

Thanks, and Shard too.

The crew would like to do a circle - round the Mull and back through the Crinan - we'll see how confident we are by then.

Ash

It's all about the tides. It's quite a long way from the Mull to Islay or Gigha roughly 24 miles. They are the two closest stopping points after the Mull but if you head for Ballycastle it's only 14 miles. It's well worth a visit if you have the time and you're going that way. From there you can get a bus to Bushmills do the distillery, Giants Causway is on the route and so is the Carrick-A Rede rope bridge. From Ballycastle onto Rathlin and Islay.

[aquaplane]

I enjoyed following your round, it reminded me of how good it can be cruising round the Clyde.

We spent 3 weeks Tarbert to Tarbert round MoK and Mull, it seemed a long way. We worked the tides Ok but there wasn't much wind so we burnt lots of diesel. It was good though.

I'll bore you to death with tales if we make it up in September, or maybe before.

[ash]

Great write up Ash. Where to next year?

Thanks, and Shard too.

The crew would like to do a circle - round the Mull and back through the Crinan - we'll see how confident we are by then.

Ash

It's all about the tides. It's quite a long way from the Mull to Islay or Gigha roughly 24 miles. They are the two closest stopping points after the Mull but if you head for Ballycastle it's only 14 miles. It's well worth a visit if you have the time and you're going that way. From there you can get a bus to Bushmills do the distillery, Giants Causway is on the route and so is the Carrick-A Rede rope bridge. From Ballycastle onto Rathlin and Islay.

We were berthed behind 'Talisman' from Troon C.C. in Campbeltown - she was on her way to Ballycastle.

The crew took the grandkids to Ireland via the car and the Troon ferry and they enjoyed their visit to the Giants Causeway and the rope bridge as well as Derry.

Cheers

Ash

[ash]

I enjoyed following your round, it reminded me of how good it can be cruising round the Clyde.

We spent 3 weeks Tarbert to Tarbert round MoK and Mull, it seemed a long way. We worked the tides Ok but there wasn't much wind so we burnt lots of diesel. It was good though.

I fire up the engine more often than I used to when boat speed gets too low, because I have a destination in mind, but even then I don't drive it that hard because my plan is based on being able to sail given half decent winds.

Our shortest trip was Portavadie to Tarbert but most days were only 15 to 20 miles with Campbeltown to Troon the longest at 36 miles.

I'll bore you to death with tales if we make it up in September, or maybe before.

Looking forward to it.

Ash

[ash]

Some Photos

Lochgoilhead







Ash

[ash]

Some more.

PS Waverley at Lochranza





Ash

[ash]

And just to prove that we got there!

Campbeltown











Ash

[aquaplane]

We were rafted alongside the resident cat when we were there.

I'm sat here @ work looking out of the window hopeing for a good W/E and Mum rings to say it's a nice day in Tarbert and she is walking round to the pier to have a trip on the Waverly this afternoon, booger.

[claymore]

Really enjoyed this thread - well written and interesting.

The book I have brought on my working Danish holiday ( Deaver - the coffin dancer) is a load of absolute twaddle. It was one of Dear Heart's book club reads.
Mistrals Summer Jaunt was a much better read

[Aja]

Excellent read. Well written.

Regards

Donald

[ash]

We were rafted alongside the resident cat when we were there.

Her skipper is the guy who helps the berthing master.

Mum rings to say it's a nice day in Tarbert and she is walking round to the pier to have a trip on the Waverly this afternoon, booger.

It's good to hear that she's spending time in Tarbert.

Really enjoyed this thread - well written and interesting.

The book I have brought on my working Danish holiday ( Deaver - the coffin dancer) is a load of absolute twaddle. It was one of Dear Heart's book club reads.
Mistrals Summer Jaunt was a much better read

Excellent read. Well written.

Regards

Donald

Thanks guys, you're too kind.

I take notions, but I've a habit of not finishing write ups. I never finished a write up on the Beta install. I never finished the write up on our Greek flottilla.

I seem to have lots of words in my head, but then I fore shorten things as I write them down. Maybe I just don't type fast enough.

There are far better word smiths on here so maybe some of it rubs off!

Ash